Karina Pandya

On  9th November 2025 , I had the wonderful opportunity to join a special  epilepsy picnic  organised by  Samman  at  Gorai Farm —a serene, lush-green retreat away from the noise and pollution of the city. It wasn’t just another outing; it was a day filled with  laughter, connection, and gratitude . The Journey and First Impressions Our journey began at  8:00 AM sharp , with a bus arranged by  Samman  from  Bandra  to  Gorai Farm , making stops along the way at  Andheri ,  Borivali , and other points. Excitement filled the air as we made our way to the farm. The  cool morning breeze , the  hum of conversations , and the  sense of community  made the trip itself memorable. A few hours later, we arrived at the farm and were greeted by the refreshing sight of  open fields  and the  peaceful sounds of nature . The  Samman  team had beautifully arranged everything—from...

  Founded by  Dr Nirmal Surya  in 2009, the  Epilepsy Foundation of India  initiated  National Epilepsy Day , observed every year on  November 17th , to raise awareness about epilepsy, educate the public on its treatment, and support individuals living with the condition. Globally, efforts to promote epilepsy awareness date back several decades. In  1969 , the  Epilepsy Foundation  in the United States designated  November  as a time for awareness campaigns. Later, in  2003 , the  U.S. Congress  officially recognised  November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM) . During this month, initiatives such as  “Share Your Purple Power”  encourage people to wear  purple —the colour symbolising epilepsy awareness—to show solidarity with those affected and to help spread understanding about the condition. Pioneers in Epilepsy Research Epilepsy research has a rich history shaped by several medica...

  Rishikesh ( also  spelt as Hrishikesh ) was one of my top cities to visit to and I got the chance to visit the city on a short yoga trip in November  2024. I was lured to this place mainly because of the number of water sports that it had, such as Whitewater river rafting and visiting the main sites such as Trivenu Ghat, Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula.    Of course, the sports such as bungee jumping, cliff jumping trekking were left out. Besides this, the entire area was surrounded by temples and ashrams, and I did get a chance to visit the Beatles’ ashram whilst on my stay. The city, which is also known as the Yoga capital of the world and adventure capital of India, is also a significant pilgrimage site. Each morning here starts with the sound of temple bells and chant, which echo through the misty air.       While on my stay at the Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa , I went for the white water rapids of the Ganges, where I could not only feel t...

At thirty, I treated curiosity like a daily practice.    In 2016 -when I turned 30, New York became my wide-open classroom: my first open mic, SGI-USA and even a curious peek at Scientology, long walks from Fulton Center to DUMBO and Long Island City’s water views, Smorgasburg Saturdays, bowling nights, a cronut, Beetle House and Brooklyn Bowl, a Coldplay concert, the US Open and a Mets game.    I cycled the city with strangers, wandered the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the 9/11 Memorial, and let Devoción coffee and Williamsburg’s cats keep me company. There were reunions and stages too—back home for a school reunion, and onstage for a talk at the Icon Business Forum. That year felt like a permission slip: explore, connect, try.   When I was 31 years old, momentum met discipline. I ran the Mumbai Marathon with Sumeet and, on my own steam, conceived and conducted Limits Make Things Too Small as a full-fledged event.    When I was 32 years old, widened ...

                                          On September 19 th , 2025 there was a spark in the air as the energy at Veda Kunba transcended borders. An event titled – India and USA: Can Art Unite brought together poets, film makers, writers, and theatre enthusiasts in a celebration of performance, reflection and storytelling. Poetry Session: Global Unity and Local  Unity   A packed evening, it began at 4.30 PM and stretched right till 9PM.    The evening kickstarted with a poetry session with performers such as Jasmine Babbar (Storyteller), J Brandon Hill (Actor), Stephan Fife (Author and Theatre Director), Karina Pandya (Author and poet) and Tracy Ann Chapel (actor) performing some of their finest pieces and engaging with the audience.     Panel Discussion: Can Art Unite?   After an engaging session of poetry which enlightened the audience, there...

Epilepsy is something most people don’t really know much about. For me, it’s just part of who I am—part of my head, part of what’s happening inside my brain. Sometimes something triggers it off, and I’ve learned over time that epilepsy can come from many different causes. Because I’ve had a brain injury, many assume that’s the only reason I developed epilepsy. But epilepsy doesn’t have just one cause. It can be genetic, it can arise from brain tumors, infections, complications, or even without a clear reason at all. And it’s not one fixed condition either—it has many types and patterns, which makes it complicated and often misunderstood. Types of Epilepsy and Seizures There are four main classifications of epilepsy: Focal epilepsy : Seizures begin in one specific area or side of the brain. Generalized epilepsy : Seizures involve widespread areas of the brain from the start. Combined (Focal and Generalized) epilepsy : A mix of both focal and generalized seizures. Unknown onset epilepsy ...